Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-04-17

l
222. what is il now?'
Its staff, whis--, staff. Yes,
il is staff, persisted the warder Then
| n half light of recognition stole into his
face, and he ADDED cautiously, But
it's very like wbiskey-bottle."
at isa wlliskey-bottle," the prisoner
said agein. "Smell it.
The warder raised his staff to his face
ard messed it critically.
"It's a wbiskey-bottle A whiskey-
bottle A whiskey-bottle " he cried
GeliRbtedly, aud made as though be
would uncork it.
Put it back" said the prisoner i'm
periously f; and straightway, but with
an appearance of disgust and disap-
pointment, the wsrder returned the
staff to his belt.
~ single snap Of his fingers No.
222 Cissipated the eject. and the warder
knew nothing but that he had just COM
pletod a fruitloss search on him for to-
bacco.
"Mind how you conduct yourself.
300, else I'll run you in, will, he said
as he quilted the cell.
"Thsnk You, sir, will be careful,
answered the prisoner respectfully and
returned TO his bed.
While in this state OF normal con-
seriousness the warder, Of course, re-
NAMED wholly ignorant of the humilia-
ting episode Of the wliskey-bottle, and
as he lost nothing OF his antipathy to
No. 222 he continued to persecute him
in various ways.
II resulted that the prisoner one day
took counsel with himself and decided
10 bring the matter to an issue. lie
had grown weary Of the warder and
deemed it well to make an end OF him.
Int it was never his habit to seek for
opportunities, so he set down quietly
TO wait until one should come. And
presently it came.
The warder appeared one evening IN
the cell Of No. 700 and charged him
with some stupid offence which it
vould have been beneath the dignity OF
any intelligent prisoner 20 be guilty OF;
Bv this time No. % had acquired
such complete control over the voiitlon
of this wardcr that he could make a
slave of him by nod. lie suffered
him TO set forth his charge and then,
rising from his stool, he placed himself
before the officer, end with a single
glance he struck him into state OF
catalepiic rigiditv.
When in the cataleltic state the victim
ALWAYS remembered what had occurred
in former abnormal situations, and he
seldom failed to'revert to the incident
Of the staff transformed into a whis-
: key bottle.
Let us have little vhiskey, sir
DO" he pleaded in wheedling tone, for
, in this coalition he was a creature DIS
tnct irora8is waking self.
"Silencc said the prisoner, who
. was now again the master
| I'm a-wait;ns for your orders, sir,
l r,plied the war6er submissiveIy.
lyon slall have them soon enough,
J aid No. 222. Listen to me. In
l YOUR present condition you are i'll my
Tower: when | release you ! am IL
4 Ioms. Your power You use like
T i,ront, and ! am sick of IT and OF you
/ Icu are poor and despicable crea-
> ,nre whom the accident Of fortune has
4 u'accd in position Of almost unlim
= lt,d authority over some hundreds o.
unhappy criminals. ! admit that many
n IN this place are very bad men ano
; merit no better fate than the desperate
a one they suffer here. But you are
+ very had man also, and the least sulteC
= therefore to have power over your ma
S tural kin. Over good men 4 bad rule
e j, a sufficient evil over bad men HI
u rule is an iutolernble curse. You have
d too long abused your power here yol
u sail abuse it 10 longer | put an enc
; to your rule tonight"
e Atthese portentous words the warde
/ TUNED winter than the whltewashe'
walls of the cell. His muscles quIy
Il red he shock III every limb.
& What are you going to do with me
= sir?" he 0uayered.
It Il am going to settle Your hash,
n replied Ne. 222 gravely. adopting tn
p j ode of speech best calculated to strlk
e ONE TO tie feelings and intelhgenc
> If the varder.
d My ash sir Going to settle m
r ash ! Are You going TO Kill me?
"Oh. nc, " replied No. 222. L al
,r not going to hurt YOU in the least.
j. lave thought OF another and NOR
ne Elective mode Of dealing with you.
a an simply going to request You I
Ks sand Oh Your head for few moment
10 Il, re in the middle of the cell. hes
lg Il G Governor coming; be good enoug
C. to comply with my request at once.
The tioyernor in fact was making
% round of tie prison that evening, an
/ At that veIy moment his step could !
ID ,card coming in the direction OF Il
e. c,ll where this unusual colloquy WI
o. proceeding. 80. oo
"Staud on your head, said No. y
an The Governor Will be here III a IN
be Meut."
A dense sweat brokoupon the wardel
f,rohead and glit.ered there in beads
a "Stand on your head, " repeated Il
i'm r,isonor coldly and calmly.
I'D II won'ti" said the warder dogge
On /, hut his trtmulous features and t
oh rocking OF his body showed HIM me
tly Iatle Of resistance to the teInDle ="
,or @. No. go.
I'D The Governors step came near'
he i he ward. + lad not closed the door
tie cell, and il gaped some SIX inches
re. "Obey mo now, say" exclaim
he Ike prisoner, and his eyes shot fire IN
Il G Wild and fearful orbs OF his victlI
It'll One convulsive effort to be master
nd himself tie wIetched warder made, b
in. lie prisoner held him with his eye a
II ade two rapid passes across the 'lpl
}. norton of The wardcr's face.
," The body of the warder swung Il
ward, he turned a half somersault' o
to- placed himself heels uppcrmost IN
the G, ntre of he cell.
The Governor, with the chief ware
to at his elbow, paused at the UNLOCK
door, pushed it open, and looked III.
ed, Spectaclcs of this sort were not co
re- non in the prison, and for nome
tie Governor appeared to doubt vi
If lie saw before him.
off he advanced G st6p into the cell
tbe tlere hated, speeches. and c.
'rn fcupded. The chief warder loot
III over The Governors shoulder, and
a U also seemed very much surprised.
"n No. 222 had risen on the entry OF
a. Governor and stood to attention "
~ l;s hand this sides. His countena
- .h;L;4ed an cir of mild cOnce